Perennial Edible Fruits C2P19

more days. Fruit 8-12 cm in diameter, solitary; external color yellow, internal white.

Utilization: Pulp eaten fresh, in desserts. Flavor sweet, insipid. Little potential as food crop.

Reference: Fouqué 1974.

Apocynaceae

Carissa carandas L.
Common names: karanda, Christ's-thorn (English).

Origin: India.

Distribution: Tropics, subtropics.

Cultural requirements: Subtropical climate with low to medium rainfall and medium-acid soil.

Description: Shrub to 3 m. Propagation by seed, cut-tings, layering. Fruit production in 3-4 years from seed, 1-3 years from vegetative propagation. Flowers all year. Fruit spherical to ellipsoid, 1.5-2 cm in diameter, solitary; external color black, internal red.

Utilization: Pulp used in jelly, preserves, beverages. Flavor sour; fair appeal. Home garden crop; little potential for commercial production.

References: Burkill 1935, Ruehle et al. 1958.

Carissa Edulis Vahl
Common name: Egyptian carissa (English).

Origin: Africa.

Distribution: Africa.

Cultural requirements: Hot climate with low rainfall.

Description: Shrub. Propagation by seed, cuttings. Flowers March-August. Fruit matures in 60 days. Fruit 1.5 cm in diameter, solitary; external color black, internal reddish.

Utilization: Pulp eaten fresh, made into jam, vinegar. Flavor sweet, pleasant. Little potential for cultiva-tion as food crop.

References: Dalziel 1948, Irvine 1961.

Carissa grandiflora A. DC. (= C. macrocarpa (Eckl.) A. DC.)
Common name: Natal plum (English).

Origin: Eastern and southern Africa.

Distribution: Tropics, subtropics.

Cultural requirements: Grows well in variety of climatic and soil conditions and in wide range of altitudes and latitudes.

Description: Shrub to 4 m. Propagation by seed, cut-tings, layering. Fruit production in 4-5 years from seed, 2-3 years from vegetative propagation. Flowers all year. Fruit matures in about 60 days. Fruit ellipsoid, 2.5-5 cm long, solitary; external color red, internal pink.

Utilization: Pulp eaten fresh, made into sherbets, jelly, jam. Flavor sweet to subacid, sometimes astringent; moderate appeal. Potential as home garden food plant. Important as ornamental.

References: Popenoe 1939, Ruehle et al. 1958.

Hancornia speciosa Gomez
Common names: mangaba (English, Portuguese); caoutchouc de Pernambouc (French).

Origin: Brazil.

Distribution: South America.

Cultural requirements: Hot, dry tropical climate; sandy soils.
Description: Shrub or tree to 7 m. Propagation by seed. Fruit 3-6 cm in diameter; external color yellow or red, internal white.

Utilization: Pulp eaten fresh, made into sherbets, pre-serves, wine. Flavor subacid, pleasant; general appeal. Potential undeveloped, possibly high.

References: Cavalcante 1976, Fouqué 1974.

Saba senegalensis (A. DC.) Pichon
Common names: saba (English); anoma (Ghana).

Origin: Africa.

Distribution: Africa.

Cultural requirements: Grows on fringe of forest zones, tropical climate.

Description: Woody vine. Propagation by seed. Fruit 10 cm long; external color orange, internal yellow.

Utilization: Pulp eaten fresh. Probably little potential.

Reference: Irvine 1961.

Araceae

Monstera deliciosa Liebm.
Common names: ceriman, monsters (English); balazo, cerimán de México, pina anona (Spanish); ananas de Mexico, ceriman (French); banana de brejo, banana do mato, fruta de Mexico (Portuguese).

Origin: Mexico, Guatemala.

Distribution: Pantropic.

Cultural requirements: Hot, humid tropical lowlands with fertile soil.

Description: Large vine. Propagation by seed, cut-tings. Fruit production in 6-8 years from seed, 3-4 years from cuttings. Flowers all year. Fruit ma-tures in 90-120 days. Fruit cylindrical, 15-25 cm long, solitary; external color yellowish green, internal pale yellow.

Perennial Edible Fruits of the Tropics

Apocynaceae

Araceae